Community Youth Empowerment Assistant - Lower River Region (LRR)
Gambia
- Organization: UNV - United Nations Volunteers
- Location: Gambia
- Grade: National UN Community Volunteer Part time
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Occupational Groups:
- Youth
- Social Affairs
- Administrative support
- Civil Society and Local governance
- Closing Date: Closed
Details
Mission and objectives
UNDP is the UN’s global development network, an organization that advocates for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help build resilient nations and improve the livelihoods of people. UNDP Gambia was established in 1975 as a development partner to provide technical assistance through advice, access to its global knowledge networks and financial support to implement government development frameworks to boost capacity development and promote national efforts to eradicate poverty and attain the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In The Gambia, UNDP supports national efforts for sustainable human development in line with the Gambian National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2021 which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development/SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063. To deliver on its mandate, UNDP partners with key government institutions and employs different means of actions including institutional capacity strengthening, harnessing strategic linkages, support to evidence-based policy formulation, planning and implementation, resource mobilization, support to national planning processes and mainstreaming of relevant issues.
In The Gambia, UNDP supports national efforts for sustainable human development in line with the Gambian National Development Plan (NDP) 2018 – 2021 which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development/SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063. To deliver on its mandate, UNDP partners with key government institutions and employs different means of actions including institutional capacity strengthening, harnessing strategic linkages, support to evidence-based policy formulation, planning and implementation, resource mobilization, support to national planning processes and mainstreaming of relevant issues.
Context
In The Gambia, UNDP supports national efforts for sustainable human development in line with the Gambia’s Recovery Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP 2023-2027), which is aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development/SDGs and the African Union’s Agenda 2063. To deliver on its mandate, UNDP partners with key government institutions and employs different means of actions including institutional capacity strengthening, harnessing strategic linkages, support to evidence-based policy formulation, planning and implementation, resource mobilization, support to national planning processes and mainstreaming of relevant issues to ensure no one is left behind.
UNDP The Gambia, with funding from the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB), is implementing a project on Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Peace in The Gambia through the Holistic Empowerment of Women and Youth (2025-2026). The overall objective of the project is to contribute to sustainable peace by holistically empowering women and youth. This includes mitigating the risk of drug abuse exposure, enhancing their resilience against external shocks through innovative livelihood improvements, and promoting increased participation of women and youth in peace and security initiatives.
The Gambia faces multifaceted challenges that threaten sustainable peace and security. The 2024 Conflict and Development Analysis Report highlights economic vulnerability and the drug crisis as key drivers of violence and instability. Ethnic, religious, and political polarization —rooted in the country’s nascent democracy—exacerbates these issues. This division hinders effective governance and limits collaboration among diverse communities, which is essential for fostering inclusive economic development. Women and youth are the most affected by these challenges. Recognizing the interconnectedness of economic vulnerability, drug abuse, and peace, the project adopts a holistic approach to address the multidimensional needs of women and youth for sustainable peace and development. The project aligns strategically with the National Action Plan (NAP) for Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and the NAP for Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
The project’s specific objectives are: (i) enhancing the participation of women and youth in peace and security initiatives to contribute to inclusive and sustainable peacebuilding, (ii) strengthening the capacity of women and youth in community-based enterprises within agriculture to promote inclusive economic growth for sustainable peace, and (iii) establishing and empowering youth-led initiatives to effectively prevent and reduce drug abuse, thereby contributing to improved community well-being and sustainable peace.
UNDP The Gambia, with funding from the Japan Supplementary Budget (JSB), is implementing a project on Promoting Sustainable and Inclusive Peace in The Gambia through the Holistic Empowerment of Women and Youth (2025-2026). The overall objective of the project is to contribute to sustainable peace by holistically empowering women and youth. This includes mitigating the risk of drug abuse exposure, enhancing their resilience against external shocks through innovative livelihood improvements, and promoting increased participation of women and youth in peace and security initiatives.
The Gambia faces multifaceted challenges that threaten sustainable peace and security. The 2024 Conflict and Development Analysis Report highlights economic vulnerability and the drug crisis as key drivers of violence and instability. Ethnic, religious, and political polarization —rooted in the country’s nascent democracy—exacerbates these issues. This division hinders effective governance and limits collaboration among diverse communities, which is essential for fostering inclusive economic development. Women and youth are the most affected by these challenges. Recognizing the interconnectedness of economic vulnerability, drug abuse, and peace, the project adopts a holistic approach to address the multidimensional needs of women and youth for sustainable peace and development. The project aligns strategically with the National Action Plan (NAP) for Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and the NAP for Women, Peace and Security (WPS).
The project’s specific objectives are: (i) enhancing the participation of women and youth in peace and security initiatives to contribute to inclusive and sustainable peacebuilding, (ii) strengthening the capacity of women and youth in community-based enterprises within agriculture to promote inclusive economic growth for sustainable peace, and (iii) establishing and empowering youth-led initiatives to effectively prevent and reduce drug abuse, thereby contributing to improved community well-being and sustainable peace.
Task description
Under the direct supervision of the Project Manager, the National UN Community Volunteer will carry out the following tasks:
• Provide coordination support for the effective implementation of project activities, including initiatives led by regional youth.
• Facilitate the mobilization of participants for project activities such as training, workshops, and related engagements.
• Support the organization of logistical arrangements for project activities, including the procurement of venues, catering, and other necessary services.
• Provide close support to regional youth in designing and implementing initiatives, including peer-to-peer sensitization on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS), development of community-level action plans, peer-to-peer sensitization on the prevention of drug abuse, and positive coping sessions.
• Assist in the management of activity budgets related to youth-led initiatives, ensuring compliance with established procedures.
• Contribute to the documentation and reporting of activities by preparing activity reports, drafting minutes of meetings, and maintaining accurate records.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the UNDP Country Office
13. Required education: Secondary Education
14. Area(s) of specialization (education): community engagement, community development, social work, working with youth, peacebuilding or other relevant and related social science
15. Required experience: 2 years
16. Required skills and experience:
• Experience in project activity implementation related to youth, women, peace, development
• Experience working on initiatives geared towards the inclusion and empowerment of marginalised groups like women, youth and Persons with Disability (PWDs).
• Experience working in the UN or other international development organisation is an asset
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Have affinity with or interest in peacebuilding, gender and youth empowerment, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.
• Provide coordination support for the effective implementation of project activities, including initiatives led by regional youth.
• Facilitate the mobilization of participants for project activities such as training, workshops, and related engagements.
• Support the organization of logistical arrangements for project activities, including the procurement of venues, catering, and other necessary services.
• Provide close support to regional youth in designing and implementing initiatives, including peer-to-peer sensitization on Youth, Peace and Security (YPS) and Women, Peace and Security (WPS), development of community-level action plans, peer-to-peer sensitization on the prevention of drug abuse, and positive coping sessions.
• Assist in the management of activity budgets related to youth-led initiatives, ensuring compliance with established procedures.
• Contribute to the documentation and reporting of activities by preparing activity reports, drafting minutes of meetings, and maintaining accurate records.
• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the UNDP Country Office
13. Required education: Secondary Education
14. Area(s) of specialization (education): community engagement, community development, social work, working with youth, peacebuilding or other relevant and related social science
15. Required experience: 2 years
16. Required skills and experience:
• Experience in project activity implementation related to youth, women, peace, development
• Experience working on initiatives geared towards the inclusion and empowerment of marginalised groups like women, youth and Persons with Disability (PWDs).
• Experience working in the UN or other international development organisation is an asset
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels; familiarity with tools and approaches of communications for development;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines;
• Have affinity with or interest in peacebuilding, gender and youth empowerment, volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN system.
This vacancy is now closed.